Improvement in car-couplings



E. D; THOMPSON.

Car Coupling.

No. 105,278. Patented July 12, 1870.

fi ZZZ; ZM WM NPETERS. PHOTO-UTHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D C4 cited finite mien-t (utilize.

EDWARD DAVIS THOMPSON, OF LAWRENCE. KANSAS.

Letters Patmt No. 105,278, dated July 12, 1870.

IMPRQVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD DAVIs THOMPSON,

' of Lawrence, in the county of Douglas, in the State for railroad cars which shall be self-acting, durable, and simple in construction and operation.

It consists in the construction and arrangement of devices, as hereinafter more fully described.

In the accompanying drawing-.

Figure 1 is a side view of a car-truck with my coupling attached.

Figure 2 'is a side view of my coupling with the bumpers engaged.

Figure 3 is a side view of the same with the drawheads engaged.

Figure 4 is a hottoin view of a car-truck with my coupling attached;

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the arrow-head arrangement for link, and the same in position for coupling to draw-heads of the ordinary construction.

Figure 6 is a front view of the supporting stirrup, with a cross-section of the draw-bars.

Figure 7 is a top view of the link to be used with my improved draw-head.

parts.

In fig. 1 of the drawingn represents the arrow-head, which isattached to andbetween the parallel bars 71, which bars are connected with the bottom of the car in any suitable manner, allowing of sufiicient vertical motion to disengage the arrow-heads and thus uncouple the cars.

t t are bumpers attached to or forming part of the parallel bars h h.

S is a lifting-stirrup attached to the parallel bars, for uncoupling the draw-heads.

i is a supporting stirrup.

In fig. 5 1). represents the link, am

0, the pin for coupling to the draw-heads in ordinary use.

Operation.

The draw-head a is supported in position by the stirrup t, which is attached at some distance from the front of the car, and which is inclinedto admit of a certain amount of elasticity, andis also curved at its Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding lower or outward end, to permit of a lateral motion of the draw-head, and yet return it to its properposit-ion by gravitation, when relieved from side-pressure.

Upon the approach of two cars fitted with'my coupling, the inclined sides meet,-and one of the drawhcads is elevated until the arrow-heads pass each other, when the upper on'e faces, and the cars are coupled, the bumpers t t receiving the shock of concussion, and transmit-ting the same to' the ordinary' spring-box now in general use.

For uncoupling the cars I use a lifting-stirrup; s, pivoted on each side of the parallel bars it h to the bumpers t t, which permits the passage of the opposing draw-head, and secures the application of the lifting force at the most advantageous point, as well,

by its attachment to both sides of the draw-head,

prevents a tendency to rotation.

The coupling-head a is slotted, as shown in fig. 5, for the purpose of admitting the link 1), which is so constructed as to be entirely withdrawn and secured within the draw-head by the pin 0 passing through a hole in its center, when it is intended that two of my couplings shall act together, and is protruded, as shown in fig. 5, when it is desirable to use one of my couplers in connection with the draw-head now in ordinary use.

The link 1) is so constructed with a slot at one end as to permit of its entering and being fastened in the ordinary draw-head, yet prevents'the same from coming in contact with my coupler.

Having thus fully described my invention,

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of the arrow-head a with the bars h It and the bumpers tt, constructed and arranged substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

2 The combination of the draw-bars it h with the supporting curved and inclined stirrup '1, arranged substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

. 3; The combination of the stirrup s with the bumpers t t and the bars h h and heads a a, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

4. The combination of the link or tongue 1), constructed as described, with the arrow-head a, slotted as described, for the purposes set forth.

EDWARD D. THOMPSON.

Witnesses:

THOMAS TAYLOR, O. A. LANGLEY. 

